Tuesday, 22 June 2010

Belongings

I've taken some time off writing my blog of late as I recently lost my Nan, a lady who featured on a post about dressing tables some weeks back.

As you may know I have been researching and studying narrative through belongings for an upcoming project I am collaborating on with the Stoke Pottery Museum and Art Gallery. My main interest has been looking at stories through female apparel, especially dressing tables and dressing up.

Recently I featured an article from Vanity fair called The Things She Left Behind, about the cache of personal items which had belonged Marilyn Monroe and I found this piece very provocative. In the last few weeks I have come to realise just how poignant belongings can be.

Walking into my Nan's flat to begin the big job of clearing it out soon after she died was like walking into a time capsule saturated with memories. Her jacket was still hanging directly in front of the door with her hats, and walking into the living room I saw her box of chocolates still open and ready for eating by her chair, which incidentally was covered in chocolate crumbs.

Seeing the everyday objects I associated with her felt very odd. Suddenly they took on huge significance. And the effect of having just left them as if she was coming back was upsetting. However being surrounded by things which held her essence was also comforting. It's a strange mixture.

My Nan was a lovely person with a lively interest in the what was going on in the world around her, so I don't think she would mind my mentioning her here. She was always keen to know how my art work was going and was a steady support in my develpoment from student to artist. I will miss her so much.

I now own some of her belongings. I am infusing them with another layer of meaning and history. As they have passed onto me, they will begin a new story ...